Accounting and Finance

Study at Teesside University International Business School

See what it's like to study at our modern, enterprising and dynamic business school

You gain an understanding of key digital skills and quantitative techniques, spreadsheet analysis tools, and forms of data presentation, to support the interpretation and communication of management information.

You explore the impact of changing technology on the business environment, looking at the importance of technology in business and the potential impact of Industry 4.0 on the accounting profession, including employment trends, networks and cloud technology, data analytics, artificial intelligence and automation, and blockchain.

This module provides an introduction into the basic concepts of financial accounting and develops knowledge of book-keeping, accounting adjustments, and final accounts preparation, for a range of organisations.

You gain an introduction to the essential elements of cost identification, classification, and recording within an accounting environment. You understand the importance of controlling costs from the perspective of business profitability.

You gain an introduction to business structure and purpose, exploring formal and informal organisation structures, organisational culture and stakeholder theories. You also look at management and leadership theories and key aspects in human resource management including recruitment, learning, communication and resource management.

You gain knowledge and understanding of basic microeconomic and macroeconomic concepts and theories to apply to real economic problems in mixed economies such as the UK. This helps you appreciate important economic relationships and factors determining them. You also learn to evaluate critically the effects of micro and macroeconomics including policy, developments in the economy and on social and business affairs.

You explore the concepts of professional skills, governance, ethics and sustainability, in the context of your studies and future career.

You explore the importance of accounting information systems in the categorising and reporting of financial information for organisations. You look at a variety of different solutions with reference to user need. Through active learning within a live system you learn how to record transactions, enter journals in the ledger and produce accounting reports using the accounting information system.

You develop your knowledge and understanding of the legal and regulatory environment in which accountants operate, exploring current regulations governing UK companies and the role of corporate governance in providing checks and balances for a company.

You develop your knowledge and understanding of financial reporting, examining the regulatory framework of accounting in the UK and how this has developed. You learn about the users of financial information, the type of information they require and how this can be evaluated. You also study current accounting standards.

This module builds on basic financial accounting and develops knowledge and understanding of the theoretical and regulatory frameworks within which financial reporting takes place. The content and application of reporting standards are explored in the context of the preparation of key financial statements.

By the end of the module students will apply key International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) to transactions and prepare a set of financial statements incorporating Statement of Profit and Loss, Statement of Financial Position, Statement of changes in Equity and Other Comprehensive Income.

You develop your understanding and awareness of the principles and practicalities underpinning ethical and rigorous research. Through interactive seminar sessions with research-active academic staff, you develop practical skills including data analysis, in order to conduct a rigorous and ethical investigation.

Building on Management Accounting 1, you examine the accounting information used by managers to make short- and long-term decisions. Today’s management accountants play a strategic role in organisations, advising on strategy and driving sustainable business success.

You develop your understanding of tax systems objectives and constraints in developing and implementing tax policy and practice. You examine the impact of taxes on businesses and individuals, and develop technical skills in taxation.

You have the option to spend one year in industry learning and developing your skills. We encourage and support you with applying for a placement, job hunting and networking.

You gain experience favoured by graduate recruiters and develop your technical skillset. You also obtain the transferable skills required in any professional environment, including communication, negotiation, teamwork, leadership, organisation, confidence, self-reliance, problem-solving, being able to work under pressure, and commercial awareness.

Many employers view a placement as a year-long interview, therefore placements are increasingly becoming an essential part of an organisation's pre-selection strategy in their graduate recruitment process. Benefits include:

· improved job prospects
· enhanced employment skills and improved career progression opportunities
· a higher starting salary than your full-time counterparts
· a better degree classification
· a richer CV
· a year's salary before completing your degree
· experience of workplace culture
· the opportunity to design and base your final-year project within a working environment.

If you are unable to secure a work placement with an employer, then you simply continue on a course without the work placement.

You explore methods for recording and reporting complex financial transactions, developing your knowledge and understanding through analysing and interpreting financial information in the form of accounting statements. You look at the requirements of consolidated group accounts according to the International Financial Reporting Standards. The development of accounting standards and external reporting is also discussed.

You apply best practice in internal and external audit work and evaluate audit theory and practice, developing your skills in the qualitative and quantitative aspects of risk-based auditing.

You explore strategic decision making in the context of international enterprise, looking at theories and concepts relating to strategic leadership and capabilities alongside external competitive market analysis. You are expected to use your learning to develop a strategic proposal for an international business enterprise.

You examine the role of corporate finance and the market context in which it is carried out. The financial markets and their operation are explored in both a domestic and international setting. The ways in which businesses use these markets to create and maintain shareholder value is analysed in looking at capital structure, dividend policy and valuation. The use of financial instruments available to reduce risk is also examined.

You work on live projects with external clients, encouraging you to be an active learner and decision-maker, improving your communication and problem-solving abilities.??

The module comprises a learner-managed business project, the topic area of which will be associated with the your programme area of study. The project will provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your capability to undertake an individual piece of research within a business context.

The project may be an investigation of a relevant issue of academic interest, an investigation of a practical business issue, or a live problem-solving project.